With BOSM around the corner, we caught up with the defending champions, interrupting their five-hour long practice session. As soon as we entered the court, we could feel the electricity in the air. Shuttles were flying around the court in unison and players were zealous in their motion.

It was not evident who the captain was since nobody was ordering the other players around. After several minutes of behavioral analysis and hunting, we managed to identify Priyanshu Bajpai, who exuded an aura of calm and confidence. The team had lost their three national-level players this July during the graduation ceremony, and the new recruits have not had much tournament exposure yet. So, it’s a daunting task to keep the title home.

‘We are aware of our opponents. Teams from Sri Lanka and SRCC are our main contenders this year. The team is definitely inexperienced as compared to last year’s, but in order to compensate for it, we have intensified our training regimen which now adds up to five hours a day; two in the morning and three in the evening.’ says the captain. When asked about the role of a captain in a sport with limited team dynamics, such as badminton, he stated that all players played under the BITS Pilani umbrella and, therefore, it was his duty to ensure the proper positioning of his players and to provide a conducive environment throughout the four-day event for the team.

We asked the team whether they preferred playing in home conditions or away; they replied that both conditions had advantages of their own. While playing away from home, there was an element of uncertainty since they did not have prior knowledge of their opponents and then there was the added pressure of playing in an alien environment. However, during BOSM they were aware of the bracket and could foretell their likely adversaries. Furthermore, the tremendous home crowd is fortifying.

We wish them all the best in their endeavour of keeping the trophy in its rightful place.